Friday, November 1, 2013

It's Our Anniversary!

Hello, all! Well, it’s been four years since the Romance Dish debuted. Four years, can you believe it?! It seems like only yesterday that PJ, Buffie, Gannon, and I were sitting in our hotel room at the 2009 Moonlight & Magnolias conference bouncing around ideas for our own blog/website and wondering if we could do it. We did it in a month’s time and despite there only being two of us now, we’re still going strong. YOU are a huge part of that, dear readers! On this special anniversary day, PJ and I would like to each share a personal anniversary with you and encourage you to share a personal anniversary with us.






Andrea here! The anniversary I’d like to share happened just last month—the 20th anniversary of continued service for my husband with the company he works for (Publix Supermarkets) and also of the day we met! In October of 1993, my husband came back to work for Publix after a brief departure the year before. He attempted to come back to the store he left, but they didn’t have a position available—which turned out to be for the best. The store I worked at did have a position open and he was hired. We didn’t start dating for another two and a half years, but we were friends from the very start. I’m extremely proud of my husband and all he has accomplished with Publix. He has always been a hard worker and has a very solid work ethic. I’ve watched and supported him as he went from being a full-time stock clerk to his current position of Store Manager. He has been an amazing example to our kids and me and shown us that hard work does pay off. It’s difficult to believe that I’ve now known him for over half my life! What a wonderful blessing! The picture to the right is of a picture frame that I have had for a long time. The picture was taken soon after we started dating. He had just gotten off work and is still wearing his work shirt!



Welcome to our celebration!  The anniversary I'm writing about today is not an occasion shared with a person or a job but, rather, with a city. That's right.  A city.  It all started in the summer of my 16th year when I visited Florence, Italy. To the best of my knowledge, my ancestry does not contain a single drop of Italian blood yet when I first entered this medieval city, birthplace of the Renaissance, my soul rejoiced as if it had finally come home.  I spent but one day soaking up her wonders but as the bus carried us away and the dome of Santa Maria del Fiore (the Duomo) that stands guard over the city faded from view, I vowed that one day I would return.  It took me a long time but on the 37th anniversary of that first visit, with my shiny new passport in hand, I boarded a plane and turned my eyes and my heart in the direction of this city with which I had fallen in love so many years earlier. Here are the thoughts I recorded in my journal as the plane brought me closer to the place that I had waited so long to see:



We are beginning our descent and I sit here, waiting, for my first glimpse of this most precious land. There!  I see it now.  The plane swoops down and my eyes hungrily sweep the magnificent vista before me.  As far as the eye can see...lush, green valleys and softly undulating hills dotted with charming Tuscan villas.  And, there, in the distance, the beautiful buildings of Florence.  The cathedrals, towers, buildings that have stood the test of time for hundreds of years, majestically standing guard over this remarkable city.  For 37 years I have waited, wanted, prayed for my return to this city that first captured my heart at the tender age of 16.  I fumble for tissues as the joy fills my soul and the tears fill my eyes.  This emotion spreading through my entire being is almost more than I can hold.  I am about to place my feet once again in this amazing city and I can hardly believe it is really true.  




On this 4th anniversary, I'd like to take a moment to thank everyone who has helped make The Romance Dish what it is today.  To Trish Milburn and Anna Campbell, thank you for sharing your knowledge, humor and wonderful talents with us over the past four years. We're delighted to announce that Anna will continue to join us once a month with her Second Helping Reviews.  Trish will continue to bring us the latest in the world of Young Adult romance but will be joining us quarterly rather than monthly.  A huge thank you to our long-time reviewer, Janga.  Your eloquence and insight make each review a pleasure to read.  The damage all those reviews are doing to my bank account is another story.  *grin*  To our new reviewers - Lisa, J Perry and Santa - thanks for offering your time and talents to The Romance Dish!  We're excited about another reviewer who will be joining the team soon but I'll save her 'big reveal' for her first review.  Finally, (as Andrea stated above) to our readers:  We wouldn't be here without you.  Thank you for your support, thank you for your insights, thank you for your friendship.  You're the wind beneath our blogging wings and we appreciate you more than you will ever know.  Let's lift our glasses to four great years of romance loving friendship and fun.  Here's to many more! ~PJ


Now it's your turn, readers.  Tell us about an anniversary you've celebrated.  Or tell us about a place you've visited that spoke to your soul.  Tell us your Romance Dish highlights of the past year - or years.  Tell us what you'd like to see here in the coming year. Tell us what you're reading or just party with us. Every comment you leave today is an entry in our huge Anniversary Bash giveaway! 

Since some of our gifts are U.S. only and others are for our international readers, we need you to include the following information in each comment you leave:  your e-mail address and whether your mailing address is U.S. or International. Those two pieces of information must be included in every comment in order for that comment to be included in the giveaway drawings.  

Let's party!

~PJ and Andrea


GIVEAWAYS:



5 Prize Packs including books and swag 
(Here's one of the packages.  Notice the hunky chest at the top?  That's an awesome t-shirt from Kim Killion at Hot Damn Designs!)







1 Signed set of Veiled Seduction trilogy by Heather Snow
 (Sweet Enemy, Sweet Deception, and Sweet Madness)










1 Signed set of books by Jennifer McQuiston 
(What Happens in Scotland and Summer is for Lovers)










1 Signed set of Renegade and Guardian by Nancy Northcott











1 Robyn Carr beach bag and signed copy of The Wanderer









1 Signed copy of Once Upon a Tower plus an Eloisa James Fairy Tale Sampler






4 International Giveaways (for any mailing address outside the U.S. that is on the bookdepository.com delivery list) One name will be drawn for each of the following books.



'Twas the Night After Christmas by Sabrina Jeffries












The Perfect Match by Kristan Higgins












The Sum of All Kisses by Julia Quinn













When the Marquess Met His Match by Laura Lee Guhrke










168 comments:

  1. Happy Anniversary. Hard to believe the Romance Dish is four years old. I would love to see more romantic suspense reviews and guest authors. Right now I'm reading Kelly Jamieson's "Breakaway."

    janie1215 AT excite DOT com
    US

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Jane! We're finding it a little hard to believe we're four years old too. Seems like just yesterday that we were opening the doors to this place. :)

      I enjoy romantic suspense too. Will do my best to add more to the mix.

      Delete
  2. Happy, Happy Anniversary! It doesn't seem possible that the Romance Dish is 4 years old. I would like to see more historical reviews and more historical authors as guests.

    USA

    kscathyATyahooDOTcom

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Cathy! Time really goes way too fast, doesn't it? Must be why my tbr mountain range is threatening to take over every room in my house. There just aren't enough hours and the ones there are fly by!

      Delete
    2. Thanks, Cathy! We love our historicals, don't we?

      Delete
  3. Happy blogversary!! Congratulations on hitting such a great milestone! I don't have any great anniversary stories to tell although I'm coming up on a milestone celebration at work soon (next year is 10!) I've only been following the Dish for about the last year or so on the recommendation of my sister but I sure wish I had been around from the start! I really enjoy visiting and reading the different reviews and I'm really appreciative that you ladies come back and respond to our comments :) Looking forward to another great year!

    ahui89 at hotmail dot com
    Canada

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Ada! Please thank your sister for the introduction. We've really enjoyed having you here over the past year!

      Delete
    2. Thanks, Ada! And happy anniversary to you!

      Delete
  4. Happy Anniversary to you! Time really does fly that four years has gone by already. It is always a pleasure to visit here and see what you are talking about. This year my husband and I celebrated out 25th anniversary just days after our daughter graduated from college.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. A 25th anniversary and a college graduation! That's definitely cause for celebration! One of my nieces just had her first baby (big celebration) and the other in on schedule to graduate college in the spring (stocking up on tissues - I always cry at graduations). :)

      Delete
    2. Thanks, Maureen! We truly appreciate your visits!

      Delete
  5. HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!! Here's to many more.

    I seem to be celebrating family anniversaries more than my own. All good though.

    marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com
    INT

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Mary! We appreciate the good wishes and hope you'll be with us to celebrate all those anniversaries to come!

      Delete
  6. Replies
    1. Thank you, Alexandra! I'm looking forward to your interview with Andrea on the 26th!

      Delete
  7. Happy anniversary! Hope there are many more because I love this site! My best anniversary was my 10th one with my husband! He took me to the Smokey mountains to celebrate! This was my first time being away from my kids and it was scary! We stayed one night and we were so lost without the kids, so we drove all night and picked them up and went back to the mountains. I so glad we did the next morning when we got up it has snowed. We had a blast playing in the snow! We will celebrate 30 years in December. We were the couple everyone said would never make it! Well we did and I wouldn't trade my marriage for nothing in the world!
    Thanks for the great giveaway!
    zipstersclue04 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Congratulations on your upcoming anniversary, Kim! I love your Smokey Mountains story. The same thing happened to me when I was 12. My parents went to Florida then missed me so much when they got there that they had my aunt put me on a plane and fly me down there. It was my first commercial flight and I did it solo. Hooked me for life. ;-)

      Delete
    2. Aww, thanks, Kim! I love the Smokey Mountains. That's where my husband and I went for our honeymoon--Gatlinburg and the surrounding areas. : )

      Delete
  8. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We've enjoyed having you along for the ride! Happy Anniversary to your parents! Sounds like they're a pretty awesome couple. ♥

      Delete
    2. Thanks, Jo's Daughter! We enjoy your frequent visits!

      Delete
  9. 37 years anniversary ! Congrats to you!

    Camry60@aol.com
    USA

    ReplyDelete
  10. Huge congrats PJ and Andrea

    I might not comment a lot but I do drop by and read all the wonderful reviews and the fun posts you have all given me so many wonderful stories to read over the years and I so happy for you.

    I celebrated my 36th wedding anniversary this year and we are still going strong whoo hoo

    Have Fun
    Helen

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Congratulations on 36 years of marriage, Helen! And thanks for stopping by. Always lovely to see you here! :)

      Delete
  11. Happy anniversary! I've only been here for 2 of those 4 years. I do enjoy visiting your website. Love the interviews, reviews and of course the free treats! I've discovered so many wonderful new authors here. I give you a lot of credit. I know this must take up huge amounts of time. Thank you for sharing your love of romance and reading!

    I celebrated my 36th wedding anniversary in July. Our biggest treat was last year when my 2 oldest children paid for our trip to Zion National Park and the North Rim of the Grand Canyon for our 35 year old anniversary present!! We had a fabulous time! I can't wait to go out west again to visit more national parks!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. What a wonderful gift, Laurie! I've been out west but have never visited the Grand Canyon. It's on my bucket list.

      Delete
    2. Oh my goodness, Laurie! We visited Zion and the Grand Canyon 8 years ago and LOVED it! Zion is absolutely breathtaking. : ) We visited Bryce Canyon, too. WOW!

      Delete
  12. I’m so very happy for you all at The Romance Dish. I discovered this blog over a year ago and it has become a daily haunt. I feel that you two ladies have become good friends especially when I chat with you nearly every day! Congratulations!! I’m glad to hear too that Anna Campbell will be a regular. She is such a sweet lady who happens to write wonderful novels too. :-) Note to Anna: I’m still trying to get to Australia to see you!

    Andrea, I send my congratulations to your husband for his years at Publix. When we moved to Florida in 1998, we discovered Publix and it has continued to be the best grocery store ever. I’m always asking them to move into the North Carolina area too where my son lives. I think they would be delighted to have them! Sorry, Folks. Don’t mean to sound like an advertisement here!

    As I’ve mentioned before, I had the opportunity to live in Paris France for six years and can honestly say that I miss it so much and I know that a part of my heart will always be there.

    There are two anniversaries for me in my life that are special. One, is that I am a 19-year breast cancer survivor and each year when I have reached another anniversary, I realize how truly lucky I am. My second is my wedding anniversary. Next month, my husband and I will celebrate 47 years of marriage. When I think back over the years we have had together, I realize what a wonderful journey it has been and all of the terrific things we have experienced. He’s my best friend and we spend our retirement days laughing and enjoying life.

    I look forward more visits to The Romance Dish. You ladies are so much fun! Thanks for all of your hard work.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Connie, thanks for traveling this journey with us!

      Those are two amazing anniversaries. Congratulations on both; for being a survivor (yay!) and for 47 years of marriage. My late husband was my best friend too. I think it's that solid foundation of friendship that really keeps a marriage strong.

      Laughing at your Publix testimonial. I lived in Florida for 23 years and love them too. I'm thrilled that we have two Publix stores coming to my corner of North Carolina within the year and one of them is less than a mile from my condo!

      Delete
    2. Thanks! And I'm so glad to hear you're familiar with Publix, Connie! Most people outside the Southeast have never heard of it. But I will say that it is a GREAT company to work for, along with a GREAT place to shop. Publix is slowly moving into NC, so keep your fingers crossed that they'll come to your neck of the woods!

      Delete
  13. patoct@yahoo.com

    Happy Anniversary to you and many, many more.

    I love this site, all the reviews, the friendliness, keeping us up to date on new books and your lives and of all the generous contests. Everything great combined all in one.

    Connie, congratulations on your wonderful milestones.

    I cannot think of an anniversary that was out of the ordinary but my bday a few days ago was wonderul - that was an anniversary of sorts of my birth - lol - I went shopping and bought myself some clothes, had dinner with another couple and then my husband surprised me when we returned with friends ringing the doorbell with dessert and coffee. A few days prior to that, we had dinner with the family. What could be better than that.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Pat, it sounds like you celebrated your birthday in style. So happy for you that it was filled with laughter, love and good friends!

      Delete
    2. Thanks so much for your sweet words, Pat. We appreciate your daily visits!

      Delete
  14. I needed this today. Most recent anniversary is of when by sweet Miss Kitty. Her birthday is in Oct. Today I am taking her to the vet cause she is not doing so good. She is 15

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sending good thoughts for Miss Kitty. I hope she'll be okay.

      Delete
  15. Happy Anniversary, dear ladies! It was a very good day for the romance community when you gals picked up your virtual quills and started writing about the books we all love and which so enrich our lives. Randy and I are so grateful and honored to count you as dear friends, and I can tell you that your support means the world to us. May you long reign!! Mwah!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks so much, Vanessa and Randy!! We love and treasure you both!! xoxo

      Delete
  16. Happy, Happy Anniversary dear ladies. Hope you have many more to celebrate together. You do a great job on here.
    Ruth Atkinson

    ReplyDelete
  17. I have almost all of the books noted above so I'm already a winner! I really appreciate this community. I have found many good books and new authors here. I'm usually a silent lurker, but today I have to say how wonderful you are. Thank you, The Romance Dish. Thank you, thank you! Happy Anniversary.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks so much for your sweet words, Nicki!! xoxo

      Delete
  18. Thank you so much for being "the" romance community! I'm so grateful to be an occasional guest here, and love to see you in person at conferences. I hope there are many more years of tasty dish ahead!

    My wedding anniversary is January 24. I'll celebrate 43 years of not killing my husband. Yet.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We love having you here, Maggie!! And congratulations and LOL on your upcoming anniversary! xoxo

      Delete
  19. Hello and welcome, everyone!! And thanks for taking the time to stop by to visit us on this very special day! It's readers like YOU and the authors we love who make it all worth it! : )

    I'm at work this morning, but will check in between that and my mom/taxi/school duties. ::wink::

    ReplyDelete
  20. Happy Anniversary, ladies! Next year we are celebrating my parents' 50th Wedding Anniversary in England, with my brother, sister (and their families) and other relatives and friends. They are very excited about it, but it will almost be more moving for me, because I live abroad and don't see my aunts and uncles and cousins any more. I am so pleased that we can all be together for such an important date and to commemorate their marriage and my Dad's 75th.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, how exciting, Bridget!! Thanks for stopping by!

      Delete
  21. Oops, I was supposed to say I was in France, so international, very international ;)

    bcostedoat1 at hotmail dot fr

    ReplyDelete
  22. Happy Anniversary and best wishes for many more. I enjoyed the lovely and beautiful post today about your heart and soul being in Florence and Italy. It resounded with me greatly. I enjoy the visit to The Romance Dish for its wonderful reviews and excellent posts. My anniversary is one of being healthy and hopefully after being diagnosed with breast cancer a year ago this will be my goal. Again best wishes. I live in the U.S.

    ReplyDelete
  23. brandon_savannah@yahoo.com
    USA :)

    Happy Anniversary!! I can say I know why you guys are still around your blog is awesome and I love reading your posts :)
    Now onto anniversary's for me... Well today kinda happens to be one for me my oldest is turning 6 today! He shares a b-day with your anniversary, but for me its the anniversary of the first time I became a mom and knew what it felt let to love someone completely :)


    Congrats The Romance Dish on your anniversary :)!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Savannah! And happy birthday to your sweet 6 year old!

      Delete
    2. He said thank you :) We spent the night at Chuck E cheese!!

      Delete
  24. Your photo and the captivating post was heartwarming and very special. I haven't travelled much but 6 years ago for the first time ever we went on an international trip to Italy My very first experience and I was enthralled, and completed enamoured with this historic, romantic and fascinating country. It captured my interest and changed my outlook on life. I am appreciative for this experience. Happy Anniversary. Your site is the best and gives me hope. I am in the U.S.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Happy Anniversary to TRD and the lovely ladies who have made it a wonderful place to come and chat about books, love, and life. I truly feel as if you are friends of mine...through cyberspace. My husband and I had our 15th wedding anniversary last month. No extra special anniversaries, really, just blessed to have good health, good friends, and a loving husband, daughter, and family.
    CONGRATULATIONS on this wonderful blog and to both of you!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. jhinshaw@netins.net
      or debhins@gmail.com
      USA

      Delete
    2. Thanks so much, Deb! We consider you a dear friend, too. xoxo And 1998 was a great year, wasn't it?! That's the same year my husband and I married, too!

      Delete
  26. Congrats on your anniversary US alysap AT Yahoo DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  27. I want to thank you not only for all the generous giveaways but for the way you handle them. You get the winners names announced and in a very timely manner. Most sites do so, but there are a handful that never announce who wins, and sometimes never send out the prize. So Kudos to you.

    And I just finished reading Kissing Under the Mistletoe by Bella Andre and A Seaside Christmas by Sherryl woods - it is time for the holiday reading.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for your kind words, Pat. They mean the world to us! And so do you!

      Delete
  28. Happy Anniversary. I think I have been around here for a little more than 2 1/2 yrs. and it is always a good place to come to find more information about one of my addictions, reading...and frankly, reading romance. THIS is one of the places I come to find new authors to read! I simply like to celebrate so any and all anniversaries of anything in our lives is memory fodder.

    We make memories and loving romance makes me realizes that anniversaries is such a huge part of the genre!

    Thanks ladies, all you ladies that have made my coming here feel so good!

    Hope

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Aww, thanks so much, Hope! We are so happy to feed your book addiction. It means what we're doing is working! Mwahahaha! ;- )

      Delete
  29. Happy 4th Anniversary. I just love this site - everyone is so friendly and I've enjoyed all your reviews and different topics of conversation. I've been lucky to have won some great reads too which is just icing on the cake!!!

    My husband and I will be celebrating our 45th anniversary next June. We were high school sweethearts :)

    Thanks for all you do!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, catslady! And a happy early anniversary to you and your high school sweetheart! Do you have anything special planned?

      Delete
  30. happy anniv! :D you're looking fab as usual ;) use to celebrate the anniv of when my puppy girl came to stay & mine, she was my sweetie and deserved the extra hugs/kisses :) looking forward to enjoying the daily visits with you all here in the coming year

    ReplyDelete
  31. I can't believe it's been 4 years since TRD first began! I remember being there when y'all were trying to come up with ideas. :)

    On May 9 of this year, I celebrated 1 year with my now fiancé. We got engaged on July 13. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I know!!! You were there from the beginning. : ) Congrats on your engagement! Though I've already told you multiple times...lol

      Delete
    2. US-- trisha dot mayfield at yahoo dot com

      Delete
  32. Congrats on all your anniversaries. Love coming here.
    US; lranda11 (at) yahoo (dot) com

    ReplyDelete
  33. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  34. I just celebrated the 10 year anniversary of my trip to Paris, France and falling in love with Europe! :)
    I haven't made it back to France, much less any of Europe since, but I'm holding my breath, crossing my fingers and saving my pennies to get there!

    Congratulations TRD on 4 successful years! I look forward to reading what's to come!

    azdeiter@yahoo.com
    US Mailing Address

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, arizonadutt! I hope you get to go back to France soon!

      Delete
  35. Happy Happy Anniversary!!! I am one of those who were here on the very first day 4 years ago. What a wonderful site this has been! Congrats to you both, PJ and Andrea!

    I enjoyed reading the anniversary stories. Andrea, what an accomplishment for your husband! PJ, my husband and I took a grand tour of Italy last summer, and we loved it!

    An upcoming anniversary worth celebrating for me is my son's first wedding anniversary. Matt and Kim married last Nov. We gained a wonderful daughter-in-law and her family members have become our friends and an extended family for us. It has been a true blessing.

    castings at mindspring dot com
    US

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Cheryl, I know you've been here from the beginning and can't tell you how happy we are to have you visit so often! Happy anniversary to your son and daughter-in-law! (((hugs)))

      Delete
  36. Happy Anniversary! What a wonderful way to celebrate. My friend and I just realized the other day that we are coming up on the 50th anniversary of having met. Three of us met in 2nd grade and have been together through all of life's ups and downs. We are so planning something special to mark the occasion. The hubby's are probably staying home. *grin*

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Wow, what a wonderful anniversary, randion!!! That is absolutely amazing. Happy anniversary to YOU! And thanks for stopping by!

      Delete
  37. Congratulations!! And such lovely prizes all month long!! Thanks from all of us!

    ReplyDelete
  38. Happy Anniversary! Next year I celebrate having been at my current workplace for 20 years, and strangely, though we have been married almost 30 years, my hubby has not matured ( I mean aged) at all! Thank you for a great blog!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Forgot to mention, I am in the US!


      emmasmom AT wi DOT rr DOT com

      Delete
    2. Hahaha! Happy anniversaries to you, Mary, and thank you for taking time to stop by!

      Delete
  39. Happy Anniversary!!!!

    azacia (at)gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  40. Congratulations! No personal anniversaries for me, just starting a new job on Monday! Will keep watching for new books to keep me going.
    melhanson1975@hotmail.com
    US

    ReplyDelete
  41. Greetings, fellow enjoyers of the written word!
    Can't believe I have been following you guys since Jan/10 - so not quite your full four years, but close! And I've enjoyed every blog you've shared with me/us. Thanks so much for improving my life and those of others!
    An anniversary celebrated would have been our 30th wedding anniversary a few years ago, when we hosted a potluck party and our favourite band played for all of us as a special surprise treat.
    Mountains always speak to my soul.
    seytype at hotmail dot com
    International

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, you've been with us for a long time, Laney! We're very grateful. : ) Love your anniversary story! I love the mountains, too.

      Delete
  42. Happy Anniversary!
    sarajowens79@gmail.com
    US

    ReplyDelete
  43. Everyone, please remember to include both your email address AND either US or International with your comment to be included in the drawings!

    ReplyDelete
  44. Congratulations on your anniversary!!! Right now, I'm re-reading Sabrina Jeffrie's Swanlea Spinsters books and am almost done with book #2, A Notorious Love. I have actually just celebrated my 9th wedding anniversary a couple weeks ago (15 October) and can't wait for more to come. My husband and I actually eloped with 2 days notice and it was the BEST decision I've ever made!!!!!
    - Brandi Brennan - brandiberri@live.com - Savannah, GA, USA

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Brandi, and happy anniversary to you and your husband!

      Delete
  45. Happy anniversary! I am finally discovering the full series...es of some of my favorite historicals thanks to reviews on sites like this...The Truth About Lord Stoneville by Sabrina Jeffries is up next! I can't think of any exciting anniversaries of my own, but then we've only been married a few years - plenty of time to create good memories.
    melarossa at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Jenny O! Yes, you have plenty of time to create some wonderful memories. :)

      Delete
  46. Congrats!

    Not big on anniversary. But we make a big deal out of birthdays for the kids! :) It makes me smile when I see them happy. :)

    Biggest romance books moments: When I start falling in love with romance with Julie Anne Long's Like No other Lover. I cried so much and I love it still! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Forgot to add my email: maybe31 at yahoo.com... and I am from Canada!

      Delete
    2. Thanks, May! And I love JAL's books, too!

      Delete
  47. Happy anniversary. You do a great job on this blog.

    penfield716(AT)yahoo(DOT)com
    US

    ReplyDelete
  48. Happy Fourth Anniversary, PJ and Andrea! I count myself lucky to have been a Dish follower from the beginning. The Romance Dish is a bright spot in my day every day, and I’m honored to be a regular guest reviewer.

    Since I refuse to admit my age, I can't give you an exact number, but this past August I celebrated more than half a century of being a romance reader. It was late summer of my tenth year that I began reading my mother's books, which included an especially generous supply of romance fiction. I knew when I read that first Emilie Loring book that I’d be reading romance novels for a lifetime—and happily I have.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Janga, we are so honored to have you visit and contribute to the Romance Dish! Thank you for all you do to help us be successful, my friend! xoxo

      Delete
  49. Happy anniversary to The Romance Dish. I love this blog. A couple of years ago, Hubby and I celebrated our 30th wedding anniversary. Now, by mutual agreement, when folks inquire, we just round off and say we've been married "more than 30 years." mochfly (at) swbell (dot) net US resident

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, LSUReader! Happy "more than 30 years" anniversary!

      Delete
  50. Happy Anniversary Romance Dish. Love this blog!!

    jlbucklin@aol.com and I live in the US

    ReplyDelete
  51. Happy Anniversary Romance Dish and I also love this blog. I have been busy today so just getting here. Have to do the trick or treat thing shortley. I am looking forward to another great year with you all.

    quiltlady110 AT gmail DOT com and I am from the US

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Quilt Lady. It's always great seeing you here!

      Delete
  52. Happy Anniversary, y'all! Here's to another great year!

    For our 25th wedding anniversary, the dh and I visited Savannah, Georgia. We discovered it together, both of us new to the city, about a month before our wedding. We went back several times before the boy was born, but touring historic houses with a toddler or a preteen boy in tow just didn't seem like a great idea. As a result, we kind of forgot about the city.

    We enjoyed our anniversary weekend hugely despite the rain that led us to forget our moonlight cruise. River Street has lost a couple of the charming businesses we remembered, but we had a great dinner in a restaurant with a view of the river, and our hotel surprised us with champagne and chocolate-covered strawberries. We'd never wandered the neighborhoods away from the river before. Doing that was a lot of fun.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Nancy! Savannah is one of my favorite cities. How fun to rediscover it with your hubby all those years later.

      Thanks for your support and encouragement over the past four years. And thank you for generously offering Renegade and Guardian for giveaway today!

      Delete
  53. I love anniversaries! How exciting for you all.
    Congrats and here's to many more years.

    ReplyDelete
  54. Thanks for your question and thanks for this post, PJ and Andrea! When my hubby and I had been married for only 10 years he was invited to participate in a pastor's exchange program where a pastor from another country comes to the US and lives in our house and uses our cars and preaches at my hubby's church (United Methodist, BTW)--and Don and I went to Wigan, England where he preached in the English pastor's church and we lived in his house and used his car. What a tremendous experience and a dream come true for me, a history buff and a huge fan of historical romances. After six weeks in Wigan, we were allowed to use another month to travel to our heart's delight, using our English pastor's car and home...and we visited Scotland, Wales and Ireland and historical sites in England--including a fantastic solid week in London. Now that was an anniversary hard to beat---but every year since then (we are at 33 years now) has gotten better yet. I have no suggestions really for you guys on your reviews because you do such a bang up great job already! I've checked out many blog sites during blog hops, but few do I subscribe to--and yours is one of the ones I am subscribed to because you offer such good choices from all genres for your reviews. Thank you for introducing me to so many new-to-me authors so that I can continue feeding my reading habit! jdh2690@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. What a lovely adventure, Janice! My pastor (also United Methodist) retired earlier this year but wasn't quite ready to give up preaching entirely. He accepted a one year position in England where he and (I think) four other pastors cover an area (kind of like circuit preaching). He and his wife are loving it!

      Delete
  55. I LOVE Historical Romance...read them all the time!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Historical romance was my introduction to the genre, Maggie. I love it too!

      Delete
  56. Happy Anniversary, ladies! I'm so glad that I found you guys here at the Dish. I enjoy reading all the different reviews and meeting all the guest authors and looking forward to finding more books I might have missed out on if I hadn't been checking the Dish out. I'm currently reading Jill Shalvis' Instant Attraction. Have a splendid anniversary bash!

    Anita
    INT - thebigbluewall77(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Anita! We're glad you found us too! :)

      Delete
  57. The best romance books I have read this year were by Julia Quinn. I pretty much only read historical romance, so please keep recommending wonderful historical romance books.

    Juliea
    julieaqsmith@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  58. Congratulations on your anniversary! I just found your site but as an avid reader, I will be checking back a lot.

    ReplyDelete
  59. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  60. Happy Anniversary Ladies and Congrats. For me, more Romantic Suspense is always welcome. Thanks for providing the reviews. The place that spoke to my soul? Scotland. The minute we left the airport and headed by car to a resort near St. Andrews I knew I had come home. Do I have ancestry here? I don't know, but for two weeks - the feeling never left me. US Mailing address. geegal@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Shore! I haven't been to Scotland (yet) but hope to visit one of these days. I do have deep ancestral roots in the Highlands.

      Delete
  61. Congratulations on your 4th Anniversary! I only found this blog about a year ago, but I check it every day and love the chance to talk about romances.

    Marcy Shuler
    bmndshuler(at)hotmail(dot)com
    USA

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Marcy! Thanks for being a regular visitor over this past year. We've enjoyed having you here!

      Delete
  62. Happy anniversary & thank you for sharing your stories! I like to celebrate my father & step-mother's anniversary, because I met my husband the next week! It was right before Thankgiving & he went away for the holiday. I was very surprised when he called me to wish me a Happy Thanksgiving, since we had just started dating. The rest is history & we have been married 22 years! I am in the US & my email address is: sharlenewegner@hotmail.com Keep up the great reviews!

    ReplyDelete
  63. Happy Anniversary! I popped over here after seeing a link on Sabrina's street team page :) My anniversary is from when my husband and I met, six years ago from August. We got married a year later, all it took was that first handshake (and me stalking him for a month haha)! I'm here in the US and my email is chelsea.graves08@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Looks like that stalking paid off! lol Glad you found your way over here. Hope you come visit us again!

      Delete
  64. Happy Anniversary to all of you for the hard work you do to introduce us to wonderful books being release and not only introducing us to wonderful new debut authors but also bringing us up to date on the new books our favorite authors are releasing!

    The one anniversary I remember every year was our 1st Anniversary in 1971 which was one month before my husband was going to finish her duty in the Navy during Vietnam. He was finally at home and for the first time I knew I wouldn't have to worry about getting a phone call that he'd still be in harms way or worrying if the phone did ring it would be bad news.

    Since then every year I treasure that same day of the year knowing he's safely by my side and that true love really can last a lifetime!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jeanne, I remember 1971 and the years of Vietnam very well. Thank for his (and your) service!

      Delete
  65. Happy anniversary ladies! Talking about anniversary, the first anniversary i had with my ex-boyfriend is the most romantic. He bought me flowers. Whatever he did the year after, up till we broke up, nothing compares to that 1st.

    smile_1773 at yahoo dot com (international)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sorry you broke up, Sienna but happy that he left you with good memories.

      Delete
  66. Happy Anniversary! I enjoy reading the reviews. I just remember getting a dozen red roses for some of my anniversarys,

    andreaDOTinfingerATgmailDOTcom

    ReplyDelete
  67. Happy Anniversary to all you wonderful ladies of The Romance Dish... Thank you for all the wonderful, fantastic authors you have introduced me to and for all the wonderful reading hours I have had because of your blog.

    I have just celebrated 12 yrs in my current home. It was a big move for me, as the move took me from my family and friends. But it was one of the best things to happen to me..

    superauntkx9_(at)live(dot)ca (International)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Kathleen! Thanks for taking this journey with us! Congratulations on your anniversary. So glad you've enjoyed your home!

      Delete
  68. I was speechless as we sailed through the Inside Passage on the way to Ketchikan, Skagway and Juneau, Alaska. The fresh air and scenery was just breathtaking.
    lizsch110@aol.com U.S.

    ReplyDelete
  69. Happy Anniversary! I'm so glad that I found your blog and I've really enjoyed all the reviews and fun author spotlights ;) Ummm... no big anniversaries for me. This year had some big changes... all for the better.. and I'm just adjusting and settling in. Thanks for sharing with us and here's wishing you many, many more!

    usa
    efender1(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  70. Happy Anniversary! I don't comment often but I read the posts. I haven't been entering any giveaways because my TBR stack is out of control. I felt the need to come in and congratulate y'all on 4 years! A blog is a lot of hard work and I wanted to let y'all know how appreciated you both are for what you put into this site and what you give us. :) (((HUGS)))

    ReplyDelete
  71. WHOO-HOO! Par-tay!
    Congratulations, y'all!
    I loooove this blog! I can always count on great posts and great giveaways (example: this one) *Grin*
    I'm just about to start Seven Years to Sin by Sylvia Day. I always love Ms. Day's amazing and lush writing!

    justforswag(AT)yahoo(DOT)com
    US.

    ReplyDelete
  72. Happy anniversary!!! I try to come on here every day even tho I dont comment all the time Thanks ladies!!!


    Donna

    ReplyDelete
  73. Happy Anniversary to The Romance Dish. I guess our most special anniversary was October a year ago when we celebrated our 30th. We spent 7 nights at Disney Animal Kingdom lodge and had a blast. I wish you great success in coming years.

    ReplyDelete
  74. Happy 4 th thanks for the great prizes, reading uncommon passion by and Calhoun,
    More guest authors and contest
    kimehak@yahoo.com
    Kimh usa

    ReplyDelete
  75. Happy anniversary! I'm graduating this December with my PhD! I'm really excited as it's been a long time coming.

    peki0101(at)hotmail(dot)com
    US

    ReplyDelete
  76. I'm so glad I found you on line; Happy Anniversary. Looking forward to many more!

    ReplyDelete
  77. Happy Anniversary!
    I have enjoyed The Romance Dish for the past couple of years and am very glad I found it. You have the types of reviews I like (not book reports that recap the story) and seem to have similar tastes in books with me so I can trust I will enjoy what you like. I look forward to many more years of enjoying your opinions and your guests.

    My favorite anniversary: the next one. We always try to do something special, plus it means we have had one more year together.

    librarypat AT com cast DOT net USA

    ReplyDelete
  78. USA

    Andrea,

    We did visit Bryce Canyon too. Loved the houri which looked like a bear. I felt like I was on an alien planet. Zion- LOVED! We hiked The Subway, The Narrows, Observation Point etc. I want to go back. The drive through the tunnel was amazing too!

    I worked for Publix seasonally for over 5 years. A wonderful company to work for. Lots of Publix romances at my store. Congrats to you and your husband.

    ReplyDelete
  79. Happy Anniversary!!! I can't believe it has been 4 years already.

    ReplyDelete
  80. Happy anniversary! May there be many more to come.
    Rlwhaley77@gmail.com
    US

    ReplyDelete
  81. kathy.auten@comcast.netNovember 2, 2013 at 2:27 PM

    Happy Anniversary!!! US

    ReplyDelete
  82. Happy Anniversary!
    Love those happy memories. My hubby, who I've been married to for over 16 years, made my dream come true a few years back when he took me to Paris for two weeks. He even let me drag him all over the city for a history lovers poking around at all the little places. :D
    As for reading, I just finished Welcome to Paradise (The Kincaids) by Rosalind James (it was free on Amazon last night) and was really surprised at how fun it was, esp as it was a bit different from what I usually read. I had never read anything by her before, but really enjoyed it.
    Thanks for the fabulous giveaway!
    Vicky in the US
    vickykerr(at)sbcglobal(dot)net

    ReplyDelete
  83. First, Thank you for all the time and effort you put in to make this a wonderful place to visit - Happy Anniversary!
    I re-visited a special place this summer - the Isle of Palms just north of Charleston SC. We went there for many years but haven't been back since my Mom died - this summer I returned with extended family and the littlest member in the next generation.
    I just finished reading Emily March's 'Miracle Road' the latest in her Eternity Springs wonderful contemporary series.

    sallans d at yahoo dot com - USA

    ReplyDelete
  84. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete